Motorsports – News about cool carshttp://newsaboutcoolcars.online
All the most interesting news about supercar!Mon, 19 Mar 2018 14:08:48 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.3192-hp Honda Mean Mower Mk2 set for speed record attempthttp://newsaboutcoolcars.online/192-hp-honda-mean-mower-mk2-set-speed-record-attempt/
Fri, 16 Mar 2018 19:05:46 +0000http://newsaboutcoolcars.online/?p=19750Four years ago, Honda debuted the world's fastest lawn mower, fittingly called the Mean Mower. After setting a Guinness World Record for the fastest speed reached by a lawn mower, Honda is coming back with an even more powerful garden tool: the Mean Mower Mk2. The Japanese company, which makes not only cars, but everything from motorcycles to lawn mowers to...

Four years ago, Honda debuted the world’s fastest lawn mower, fittingly called the Mean Mower. After setting a Guinness World Record for the fastest speed reached by a lawn mower, Honda is coming back with an even more powerful garden tool: the Mean Mower Mk2.

The Japanese company, which makes not only cars, but everything from motorcycles to lawn mowers to marine engines and much more, teased Mean Mower Mk2 in a YouTube video on Monday and confirmed the mower features the CBR1000RR Fireblade’s engine. It’s a 1.0-liter motorcycle engine that should help Mean Mower Mk2 produce around 192 horsepower. Cutting the grass never sounded so entertaining.

Honda also claimed it will be able to top 134 mph, which is 18 mph or so faster than the first Mean Mower. If the second-generation, high-speed mower can reach that mark, or simply beat 116.57 mph, Honda will be in for another Guinness World Record. The company did not provide any other specifications, but the first mower could reach 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds. Obviously, the second-generation mower will make that run even quicker.

While 2012 British Touring Car Championship winner Gordon Shedden handled the top-speed run for the original Mean Mower, Honda will have racing driver Jessica Hawkins strap in to clock a new record when the time comes. The project seems quite fitting for her as she’s also one of the “Fast and Furious Live” stunt drivers.

]]>BT62: First Brabham in 26 years to be unveiled on May 2http://newsaboutcoolcars.online/bt62-first-brabham-26-years-unveiled-may-2/
Mon, 12 Mar 2018 12:59:27 +0000http://newsaboutcoolcars.online/?p=19560The recently established Brabham Automotive, led by a Brabham family member and closely linked to the Brabham racing team, is set to unveil a new car on May 2, 2018. The car will go by the name BT62, continuing a tradition that began in 1961 when Brabham co-founders Jack Brabham and Ron Tauranac designed and built the BT1 race car for the Formula Junior...

The recently established Brabham Automotive, led by a Brabham family member and closely linked to the Brabham racing team, is set to unveil a new car on May 2, 2018.

The car will go by the name BT62, continuing a tradition that began in 1961 when Brabham co-founders Jack Brabham and Ron Tauranac designed and built the BT1 race car for the Formula Junior series.

Other cars to wear the “BT” prefix have included the BT7, which Jack Brabham drove to his first Formula 1 victory in 1963, as well as the BT19, which Jack Brabham made history in back in 1966 by becoming the first driver to win an F1 world title in a car bearing his own name. Another famous Brabham was the BT52, which in 1983 become the first turbocharged F1 car to be driven to a world title thanks to the efforts of Nelson Piquet.

The new BT62 will be the first car to bear the Brabham name in 26 years. All Brabham is willing to say about the car is that it will have completed an extensive testing program prior to its reveal in May.

Rumor has it that the BT62 will be a road-going track car as opposed to a pure racing machine. Strengthening the rumor is a quote from Brabham’s managing director and the youngest son of Jack Brabham, David Brabham, who said the following:

“My father had an incredible determination to succeed and, like him, I have worked tirelessly to bring the iconic Brabham name back to the global stage. This new chapter of the Brabham story will continue in the same spirit, but with renewed direction, focus and vigour. This announcement makes me feel incredibly proud as we enter a new era for the legendary Brabham name.”

]]>McLaren Senna GTR not bound for motorsporthttp://newsaboutcoolcars.online/mclaren-senna-gtr-not-bound-motorsport/
Wed, 07 Mar 2018 20:32:58 +0000http://newsaboutcoolcars.online/?p=19385Despite its track-focused intentions, the McLaren Senna GTR concept does not preview a McLaren entry into the World Endurance Championship, the company confirmed. McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt dashed such hopes speaking to Autocar in a report published on Wednesday. He told the publication McLaren is "not going to race" the Senna, which means we won't see the...

Despite its track-focused intentions, the McLaren Senna GTR concept does not preview a McLaren entry into the World Endurance Championship, the company confirmed.

McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt dashed such hopes speaking to in a report published on Wednesday. He told the publication McLaren is “not going to race” the Senna, which means we won’t see the potent supercar take to Le Mans.

The company first debuted the Senna as the Ultimate Series’ new range-topper with 789 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque from its 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8. At the 2018 Geneva motor show this week, McLaren ignited racing hopes with the debut of the Senna GTR concept. The Senna GTR will be built, it will be track-only, and it will be limited to at most 75 examples. It will also make at least 814 hp and more than 590 lb-ft of torque.

Flewitt went on to say the Senna GTR was given the green light to appease customers who may have missed out on the Senna road car. It also represents a more-profitable project over developing a race car for WEC. Still, the company isn’t closed-minded about other motorsports, even though F1 remains the priority, he added.

McLaren’s decision is in contrast to Aston Martin, which embraces the idea of entering the WEC with its hypercar, the Valkyrie. The company’s CEO, Andy Palmer, said the Valkyrie could go racing if FIA regulations allow for race-modified hypercars to participate.

His comments followed news that the LMP1 class, which runs prototype racers, is currently in limbo after Porsche announced it will end its campaign to enter Formula E. The news leaves Toyota as the only manufacturer backing the class.

]]>Nissan Formula E car gets Nismo-ized livery for inaugural seasonhttp://newsaboutcoolcars.online/nissan-formula-e-car-gets-nismo-ized-livery-inaugural-season/
Tue, 06 Mar 2018 15:11:52 +0000http://newsaboutcoolcars.online/?p=19294The Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance races in both Formula One and Formula E. For the 2018 season, Renault is represented in both series, but Nissan is replacing corporate partner Renault Formula E for the 2018/2019 season. A Nissan prepares to enter the world of all-electric open-wheel racing, it introduced an official livery on Tuesday at the 2018...

The Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance races in both Formula One and Formula E. For the 2018 season, Renault is represented in both series, but Nissan is replacing corporate partner Renault Formula E for the 2018/2019 season. A Nissan prepares to enter the world of all-electric open-wheel racing, it introduced an official livery on Tuesday at the 2018 Geneva motor show.

Penned by Nissan’s Global Design team in Japan, it’s not a surprising look from the company The car wears a paint scheme that bears a loose resemblance to the company’s Nismo performance brand—its logo is on both sidepods—with black accents on the lower fairings that transitions from gray to silver on the upper body work. Red accents on the front and side wings, wheel edges, and inside the side pods round out the Nismo livery.

According to Nissan’s senior VP of global design, Alfonso Albaisa, the company looked to the Doppler effect to style its all-electric racer.

“Formula E racers are virtually silent, with explosive speed bursts, thus naturally we turned to Doppler when designing the livery,” Albaisa said. “The combination of the sonic pulse of the Doppler effect and the released power of a sonic boom inspired our celebration of EV Racing!”

And yes, the exclamation point is supposed to be there.

While Nissan confirmed that its car will get a new battery and powertrain package, it’s holding out on other technical details along with its driver lineup until nearer the start of Formula E’s fifth season. The fledgling electric-car racing series’ fifth season will begin late this year. The fourth season, and thus the end of Renault’s involvement, is set to end this July.

]]>Ford mulling Formula E entry as early as next seasonhttp://newsaboutcoolcars.online/ford-mulling-formula-e-entry-early-next-season/
Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:05:45 +0000http://newsaboutcoolcars.online/?p=19231Soon, another brand could find its way to the Formula E grid: Ford. The automaker is reportedly very interested in participating in the electric-car motorsport, and it could show up as early as next season. If Ford does join Formula E, it would become the first American automaker to do so. e-Racing365 reported on Ford's possible entry last Monday. A Formula...

Soon, another brand could find its way to the Formula E grid: Ford. The automaker is reportedly very interested in participating in the electric-car motorsport, and it could show up as early as next season. If Ford does join Formula E, it would become the first American automaker to do so.

reported on Ford’s possible entry last Monday. A Formula E program could replace Ford’s World Endurance Championship program, which is contracted through mid-2019. Ford would not be able to enter Formula E as a manufacturer team, however. The motorsport allows for only 12 teams and a 24-car maximum. Porsche and Mercedes-Benz filled the 11th and 12th slots with their announcements to join the series last year.

That means Ford would have to partner with an independent team. Currently, Dragon Racing and Virgin Racing are the two available teams open for partnerships. The report said Dragon is the more likely candidate for Ford as it is owned by Jay Penske, son of the legendary racer, race team owner, and businessman Roger Penske. Roger Penske owns several Ford dealers and currently runs Fords in NASCAR.

Formula E founder and CEO Alejandro Agag told the publication that there is no wiggle room for a 13th entrant and the 12-team cap was designed to create value for the franchise system. He did say the two independent teams were receiving a lot of attention and expected one or two more manufacturers to join. Adding to the Ford rumor, Agag allegedly traveled to Detroit in February.

A Ford announcement would likely occur soon if it plans to compete in Formula E and join the starting grid for the motorsport’s fifth season, which begins late this year (the current season ends in July). Season five will also usher in a new race car design and each entrant will only run one car instead of two during each race thanks to larger batteries and other technological advances.

]]>Glickenhaus invites other automakers on amphibious transcontinental journeyhttp://newsaboutcoolcars.online/glickenhaus-invites-automakers-amphibious-transcontinental-journey-2/
Fri, 02 Mar 2018 18:12:09 +0000http://newsaboutcoolcars.online/?p=19154Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus is forging full-speed ahead with its project to rebirth the Baja Boot. Now, the company, has issued a formal invitation to other automakers to join it on an amphibious transcontinental journey. As a bit of background, the Baja Boot was an off-road buggy developed by hot rodder Vic Hickey and raced by Steve McQueen in the 1960s...

Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus is forging full-speed ahead with its project to rebirth the Baja Boot. Now, the company, has issued a formal invitation to other automakers to join it on an amphibious transcontinental journey.

As a bit of background, the Baja Boot was an off-road buggy developed by hot rodder Vic Hickey and raced by Steve McQueen in the 1960s in what would become the Baja 1000. The original has become somewhat of an icon. Only two were built, and SCG founder James Glickenhaus owns one of them.

Now, Glickenhaus is developing a new version of the Baja Boot, and the company’s transcontinental challenge is based on its capability.

SCG took to Facebook to announce plans for the transcontinental journey with sketches showing its Baja Boot-inspired off-roader. The company asked Ferrari, Lamborghini, General Motors, Porsche, and a host of other automakers to “join us with their offerings, driving West from New York, amphibiously across the Bering Sea, down the Road of Bones, across the Trans Siberian Highway through Beijing, Moscow, St. Petersburg and then on to Paris for a nice dinner on us.”

Glickenhaus previously showed CAD images of its rebooted Boot. The company’s new Boot will be incredibly capable, and Glickenhaus himself said he wants to take the vehicle to the top of the 22,615-foot Ojos del Salado volcano in the Andes Mountains to prove its capability. That was before this invitation for the transcontinental journey. Clearly, SCG has big plans.

If all goes according to plan, the Boot should be ready in 2019 and SCG will sell the off-roader for around $100,000.

We’ll be watching to see if anyone accepts SCG’s invitation. The company wants to depart Times Square in New York City in summer 2020. We’re hoping SCG makes that date and a few automakers rise to the challenge.

]]>Glickenhaus invites other automakers on amphibious transcontinental journeyhttp://newsaboutcoolcars.online/glickenhaus-invites-automakers-amphibious-transcontinental-journey/
Fri, 02 Mar 2018 16:51:19 +0000http://newsaboutcoolcars.online/?p=19148Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus is forging full-speed ahead with its project to rebirth the Baja Boot. Now, the company, has issued a formal invitation to other automakers to join it on an amphibious transcontinental journey. As a bit of background, the Baja Boot was an off-road buggy developed by hot rodder Vic Hickey and raced by Steve McQueen in the 1960s...

Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus is forging full-speed ahead with its project to rebirth the Baja Boot. Now, the company, has issued a formal invitation to other automakers to join it on an amphibious transcontinental journey.

As a bit of background, the Baja Boot was an off-road buggy developed by hot rodder Vic Hickey and raced by Steve McQueen in the 1960s in what would become the Baja 1000. The original has become somewhat of an icon. Only two were built, and SCG founder James Glickenhaus owns one of them.

Now, Glickenhaus is developing a new version of the Baja Boot, and the company’s transcontinental challenge is based on its capability.

SCG took to Facebook to announce plans for the transcontinental journey with sketches showing its Baja Boot-inspired off-roader. The company asked Ferrari, Lamborghini, General Motors, Porsche, and a host of other automakers to “join us with their offerings, driving West from New York, amphibiously across the Bering Sea, down the Road of Bones, across the Trans Siberian Highway through Beijing, Moscow, St. Petersburg and then on to Paris for a nice dinner on us.”

Glickenhaus previously showed CAD images of its rebooted Boot. The company’s new Boot will be incredibly capable, and Glickenhaus himself said he wants to take the vehicle to the top of the 22,615-foot Ojos del Salado volcano in the Andes Mountains to prove its capability. That was before this invitation for the transcontinental journey. Clearly, SCG has big plans.

If all goes according to plan, the Boot should be ready in 2019 and SCG will sell the off-roader for around $100,000.

We’ll be watching to see if anyone accepts SCG’s invitation. The company wants to depart Times Square in New York City in summer 2020. We’re hoping SCG makes that date and a few automakers rise to the challenge.

]]>New Honda Civic Type R race car ready for British Touring Car Championshiphttp://newsaboutcoolcars.online/new-honda-civic-type-r-race-car-ready-british-touring-car-championship/
Thu, 01 Mar 2018 19:15:06 +0000http://newsaboutcoolcars.online/?p=19111Car enthusiasts in the UK have experienced many a hopped-up Honda Civic Type R over the years, and the new model is a hit over there as well as in the States. It makes sense, then, that a number of those British cars would go racing. In fact, Honda has dominated the British Touring Car Championship in recent years, only just giving up the top spot to fresh...

Car enthusiasts in the UK have experienced many a hopped-up Honda has dominated the British Touring Car Championship in recent years, only just giving up the top spot to fresh competition from BMW. Honda is ready to reclaim its throne atop the BTCC world, and new Civic Type R race car is ready to do just that.

Halsford Yuasa Racing has revealed its new Honda for the upcoming 2018 BTCC season. It’s a Civic Type R, but it’s so much more than that. In fact, the race car shows off lines that we wish Honda would’ve employed on its own street car. While certain angles and creases look forced on the road car, the wider fenders and angry black paint paired with a massive wing do wonders for the visual appeal of the Type R race car.

This Civic will be helmed by drivers Matt Neal and Dan Cammish. Neal, like Honda, is no stranger to winning it all in the BTCC series. Back in 2005 and 2006, Neal claimed the Driver’s Championship in a Vauxhall followed by a SEAT. He won the top trophy again in 2011, this time behind the wheel of a Honda. That was during a run of four straight years that Honda won the Constructor’s Championship between 2010 and 2013. MG managed to unseat Honda in 2014, but Honda clawed back for the 2015 season.

BMW has won the past two seasons, though, so Honda is likely eager to get the new Type R out on the track. Currently, it’s undergoing testing in Spain. Next, the cars will get stickered up and shipped off to Brands Hatch, where the 2018 BTCC season kicks off this April.

]]>This is the view of the Formula One halo from the driver’s seathttp://newsaboutcoolcars.online/view-formula-one-halo-drivers-seat/
Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:07:41 +0000http://newsaboutcoolcars.online/?p=19038Formula One testing is underway ahead of the upcoming 2018 season. One of the biggest changes for this year's cars is how teams and drivers respond to that new batch of bodywork sitting in front of the cockpit. Last year, the FIA decided that a halo would be used to protect drivers from debris and now we're finally able to see what that means for forward...

Formula One testing is underway ahead of the upcoming 2018 season. One of the biggest changes for this year’s cars is how teams and drivers respond to that new batch of bodywork sitting in front of the cockpit. Last year, the FIA decided that a halo would be used to protect drivers from debris and now we’re finally able to see what that means for forward visibility. Williams Martini and Mercedes-AMG Petronas have released point-of-view videos of their drivers testing out the 2018 race cars.

For Williams, it’s Robert Kubica sampling the FW41 at Aragon in Spain. A sunny, cloudless day affords dry conditions and a clean view. Still, that halo is very much in the driver’s face. However, it’s thin in the middle and the driver is constantly focusing on the upcoming turns, which means looking out the open sides of the halo.

The picture is a bit different for Petronas driver Valtteri Bottas. With nothing but dark clouds overhead, the 2018 Mercedes F1 car is wearing its wet-weather tires. The camera seems closer to the halo in this shot, and it fills more of the frame. This view makes it seem more distracting. The darker car coupled with the darker sky doesn’t help matters.

Regardless, the halo is a great move forward in the direction of improved safety. It’s not perfect, but it’s primed to evolve with driver and team feedback. And it will certainly be a major talking point for the season ahead.

]]>F1 to launch streaming service in 2018http://newsaboutcoolcars.online/f1-launch-streaming-service-2018/
Wed, 28 Feb 2018 12:50:12 +0000http://newsaboutcoolcars.online/?p=19008After staying well away from the digital space during the Bernie Ecclestone era, Formula 1 is now fully embracing it by launching an ad-free, feature-rich online streaming service. The sport's commercial side, owned by America's Liberty Media since 2016, announced on Tuesday the upcoming launch of F1 TV. It's due to go live close to the start of next...

After staying well away from the digital space during the Bernie Ecclestone era, Formula 1 is now fully embracing it by launching an ad-free, feature-rich online streaming service.

The sport’s commercial side, owned by America’s Liberty Media since 2016, announced on Tuesday the upcoming launch of F1 TV. It’s due to go live close to the start of next month’s 2018 season-opening race in Australia.

What F1 TV will offer users is the opportunity to receive live streams of each race with multi-language commentary. In addition, the service will provide access to onboard cameras of each driver throughout race weekends. A flagship F1 TV Pro service will have unique feeds with the capability of personalization.

Yes, users will be able to choose the content they view and how and when they access it. All of practice, qualifying and races, will be offered live, along with press conferences and pre- and post-race interviews. Subscribers will also be able to watch live races of the main support series, namely the Formula 2 Championship, GP3 Series and Porsche Supercup.

F1 TV will be offered as a subscription service, with users to pay a monthly fee just as they would with established online streaming services such as Amazon Prime or Netflix. Prices will vary between regions but is expected to range between $8 and $12 per month for the flagship F1 TV Pro service. Annual subscriptions will also be available.

The service will be made available in four languages (English, French, German and Spanish) and in nearly two dozen regions at launch (including Germany, France, USA, Mexico, Belgium, Austria, Hungary and much of Latin America).

Access will initially be available through desktop and web, with apps for smartphones and smart televisions to be phased in on Amazon-, Apple- and Android-supported devices at a later date. The good news is that users will be able to stream F1 TV on a range of different devices at no additional cost.

A less expensive, non-live service dubbed F1 TV Access will also be available, providing live race timing data and radio commentary, as well as extended highlights of each session from the race weekend.

Should F1 TV prove successful, it could lead to a huge hit to public broadcaster and pay television viewership. However, that might not happen for some time as it looks like F1 TV for now at least is aimed at dedicated fans and not the much greater number of casual viewers.